Ezra 7 - 8
1
Now after this, v in the reign of v Artaxerxes king of Persia, w Ezra the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah,
2
son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub,
3
son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth,
4
son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki,
5
son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the chief priest -
6
this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe x skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, y for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.
7
And there went up also to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king, some of the people of Israel, and z some of the priests and a Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple b servants.
8
And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.
9
For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, c for the good hand of his God was on him.
10
For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it d and to e teach his statutes and rules in Israel.
11
This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, a man learned in matters of the commandments of the Lord and his statutes for Israel:
12
"Artaxerxes, f king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the g scribe of the Law of the God of heaven. Peace. h And now
13
i I make a decree that anyone of the people of Israel or their priests or Levites in my kingdom, who freely offers to go to Jerusalem, may go with you.
14
For you are sent by the king j and his seven counselors to make inquiries about Judah and Jerusalem according to the Law of your God, which is in your hand,
15
and also to carry the silver and gold that the king j and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, k whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,
16
l with all the silver and gold that you shall find in the whole province of Babylonia, and m with the freewill offerings of the people and the priests, vowed willingly for the house of their God that is in Jerusalem.
17
With this money, then, you shall with all diligence buy bulls, rams, and lambs, with their grain offerings and their drink offerings, and n you shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God that is in Jerusalem.
18
Whatever seems good to you and your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and gold, you may do, according to the will of your God.
19
The vessels that have been given you for the service of the house of your God, you shall deliver before the God of Jerusalem.
20
And whatever else is required for the house of your God, which it falls to you to provide, you may provide it out of the king's treasury.
21
"And I, Artaxerxes the king, make a decree to all the treasurers in the province Beyond the River: Whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, requires of you, let it be done with all diligence,
22
up to 100 talents of silver, 100 cors of wheat, 100 baths of wine, 100 baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.
23
Whatever is decreed by the God of heaven, let it be done in full for the house of the God of heaven, lest his wrath be against the realm of the king and his sons.
24
We also notify you that it shall not be lawful to impose o tribute, custom, or toll on anyone of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the doorkeepers, the temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.
25
"And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, p appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all the people in the province Beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God. q And those who do not know them, you shall teach.
26
Whoever will not obey the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be strictly executed on him, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of his goods or for imprisonment."
27
r Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, s who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem,
28
t and who extended to me his steadfast love before the king and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the Lord my God was on me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.
Ezra 8
1
These are the heads of their fathers' houses, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylonia, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king:
2
Of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom. Of the sons of u Ithamar, Daniel. Of the sons of David, v Hattush.
3
Of the sons of Shecaniah, who was of the sons of w Parosh, Zechariah, with whom were registered 150 men.
4
x Of the sons of Pahath-moab, Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him 200 men.
5
Of the sons of Zattu, Shecaniah the son of Jahaziel, and with him 300 men.
6
Of the sons of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him 50 men.
7
Of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him 70 men.
8
Of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him 80 men.
9
Of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him 218 men.
10
Of the sons of Bani, Shelomith the son of Josiphiah, and with him 160 men.
11
y Of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah, the son of Bebai, and with him 28 men.
12
Of the sons of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him 110 men.
13
Of the sons of Adonikam, those who came later, their names being Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah, and with them 60 men.
14
Of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zaccur, and with them 70 men.
15
I gathered them to the river that runs to z Ahava, and there we camped three days. As I reviewed the people and the priests, I found there a none of the sons of Levi.
16
Then I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and b Meshullam, leading men, and for Joiarib and Elnathan, who were men of insight,
17
and sent them to Iddo, the leading man at the place Casiphia, telling them what to say to Iddo and his brothers and the temple servants at the place Casiphia, namely, to send us ministers for the house of our God.
18
And c by the good hand of our God on us, they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of d Mahli the son of Levi, son of Israel, namely Sherebiah with his sons and kinsmen, 18;
19
also e Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of f the sons of Merari, with his kinsmen and their sons, 20;
20
g besides 220 of the temple servants, whom David and his officials had set apart to attend the Levites. These were all h mentioned by name.
21
i Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river j Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, k to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods.
22
For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, l "The hand of our God is for good on m all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him."
23
So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.
24
Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests: e Sherebiah, e Hashabiah, and ten of their kinsmen with them.
25
And I weighed out to them the n silver and the gold and the vessels, the offering for the house of our God that the king and his o counselors and his lords and all Israel there present had offered.
26
p I weighed out into their hand 650 talents of silver, and silver vessels worth 200 talents, and 100 talents of gold,
27
20 bowls of gold worth 1,000 darics, and two vessels of fine bright bronze as precious as gold.
28
And I said to them, q "You are holy to the Lord, and r the vessels are holy, and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the Lord, the God of your fathers.
29
Guard them and keep them until you weigh them before the chief priests and the Levites and the heads of fathers' houses in Israel at Jerusalem, s within the chambers of the house of the Lord."
30
So the priests and the Levites p took over the weight of the silver and the gold and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem, to the house of our God.
31
Then we departed from the river Ahava t on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem. u The hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambushes by the way.
32
v We came to Jerusalem, and there we remained three days.
33
On the fourth day, within the house of our God, the silver and the gold and the vessels were w weighed into the hands of x Meremoth the priest, son of Uriah, and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas, and with them were the Levites, y Jozabad the son of Jeshua and Noadiah the son of z Binnui.
34
The whole was counted and weighed, and the weight of everything was recorded.
35
At that time a those who had come from captivity, the returned exiles, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, b twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and as a sin offering twelve male goats. All this was a burnt offering to the Lord.
36
c They also delivered the king's commissions to the king's d satraps and to the governors of the province Beyond the River, and they aided the people and the house of God.
-
Cross References
Nehemiah 2:1
In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence.
-
Cross References
Nehemiah 2:1
In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence.
-
Cross References
Ezra 7:1 - 5
Now after this, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah.
1 Chronicles 6:4 - 14
Eleazar fathered Phinehas, Phinehas fathered Abishua.
-
Cross References
Ezra 7:11 - 12
This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerx...
Ezra 7:21
And I, Artaxerxes the king, make a decree to al...
Nehemiah 8:1 - 3
And all the people gathered as one man into the...
Nehemiah 8:13
On the second day the heads of fathers' houses ...
Nehemiah 12:26
These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Je...
Nehemiah 12:36
And his relatives, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, G...
-
Cross References
Ezra 7:9
For on the first day of the first month he bega...
Ezra 7:28
And who extended to me his steadfast love befor...
Ezra 8:18
And by the good hand of our God on us, they bro...
Ezra 8:22
For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of...
Ezra 8:31
Then we departed from the river Ahava on the tw...
Nehemiah 2:8
And a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's...
Nehemiah 2:18
And I told them of the hand of my God that had ...
Ezra 5:5
But the eye of their God was on the elders of t...
-
Cross References
Ezra 8:1 - 14
These are the heads of their fathers' houses, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylonia, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king:
-
Cross References
Ezra 8:15 - 19
I gathered them to the river that runs to Ahava, and there we camped three days. As I reviewed the people and the priests, I found there none of the sons of Levi.
-
Cross References
Ezra 8:17
And sent them to Iddo, the leading man at the place Casiphia, telling them what to say to Iddo and his brothers and the temple servants at the place Casiphia, namely, to send us ministers for the house of our God.
Ezra 8:20
Besides 220 of the temple servants, whom David and his officials had set apart to attend the Levites. These were all mentioned by name.
Ezra 2:43
The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth.
-
Cross References
Ezra 7:6
This Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.
-
Cross References
Ezra 7:25
And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all the people in the province Beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God. And those who do not know them, you shall teach.
Deuteronomy 33:10
They shall teach Jacob your rules and Israel your law; they shall put incense before you and whole burnt offerings on your altar.
-
Cross References
2 Chronicles 17:7
In the third year of his reign he sent his officials, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.
Malachi 2:7
For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.
Matthew 23:2 - 3
The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat.
Nehemiah 8:1 - 8
And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel.
-
Cross References
Ezekiel 26:7
For thus says the Lord God : Behold, I will bring against Tyre from the north Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses and chariots, and with horsemen and a host of many soldiers.
Daniel 2:37
You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory.
-
Cross References
Ezra 7:6
This Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.
-
Cross References
Ezra 4:11
(This is a copy of the letter that they sent.) "To Artaxerxes the king: Your servants, the men of the province Beyond the River, send greeting. And now
Ezra 4:17
The king sent an answer: "To Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe and the rest of their associates who live in Samaria and in the rest of the province Beyond the River, greeting. And now
-
Cross References
Ezra 6:8
Moreover, I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the rebuilding of this house of God. The cost is to be paid to these men in full and without delay from the royal revenue, the tribute of the province from Beyond the River.
-
Cross References
Ezra 7:15
And also to carry the silver and gold that the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem.
Ezra 7:28
And who extended to me his steadfast love before the king and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the Lord my God was on me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.
Ezra 8:25
And I weighed out to them the silver and the gold and the vessels, the offering for the house of our God that the king and his counselors and his lords and all Israel there present had offered.
Esther 1:14
The men next to him being Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king's face, and sat first in the kingdom):
-
Cross References
Ezra 7:14
For you are sent by the king and his seven counselors to make inquiries about Judah and Jerusalem according to the Law of your God, which is in your hand.
-
Cross References
2 Chronicles 6:2
But I have built you an exalted house, a place for you to dwell in forever.
Psalms 135:21
Blessed be the Lord from Zion, he who dwells in Jerusalem! Praise the Lord!
-
Cross References
Ezra 8:25
And I weighed out to them the silver and the gold and the vessels, the offering for the house of our God that the king and his counselors and his lords and all Israel there present had offered.
-
Cross References
1 Chronicles 29:6
Then the leaders of fathers' houses made their freewill offerings, as did also the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and the officers over the king's work.
1 Chronicles 29:9
Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.
-
Cross References
Deuteronomy 12:5
But you shall seek the place that the Lord your God will choose out of all your tribes to put his name and make his habitation there. There you shall go.
Deuteronomy 12:11
Then to the place that the Lord your God will choose, to make his name dwell there, there you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the contribution that you present, and all your finest vow offerings that you vow to the Lord.
-
Cross References
Ezra 4:13
Now be it known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and the royal revenue will be impaired.
Ezra 4:20
And mighty kings have been over Jerusalem, who ruled over the whole province Beyond the River, to whom tribute, custom, and toll were paid.
-
Cross References
Exodus 18:21 - 22
Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
Deuteronomy 16:18
You shall appoint judges and officers in all your towns that the Lord your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment.
-
Cross References
Ezra 7:10
For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.
-
Cross References
1 Chronicles 29:10
Therefore David blessed the Lord in the presence of all the assembly. And David said: "Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever.
-
Cross References
Ezra 6:22
And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the Lord had made them joyful and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, so that he aided them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.
-
Cross References
Ezra 9:9
For we are slaves. Yet our God has not forsaken us in our slavery, but has extended to us his steadfast love before the kings of Persia, to grant us some reviving to set up the house of our God, to repair its ruins, and to give us protection in Judea and Jerusalem.
-
Cross References
1 Chronicles 24:3 - 4
With the help of Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, David organized them according to the appointed duties in their service.
-
Cross References
1 Chronicles 3:22
The son of Shecaniah: Shemaiah. And the sons of Shemaiah: Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat, six.
-
Cross References
Ezra 8:3
Of the sons of Shecaniah, who was of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah, with whom were registered 150 men.
Ezra 2:3 - 15
The sons of Parosh, 2,172.
-
Cross References
Ezra 10:30
Of the sons of Pahath-moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.
-
Cross References
Ezra 10:28
Of the sons of Bebai were Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.
-
Cross References
Ezra 8:21
Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods.
Ezra 8:31
Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambushes by the way.
-
Cross References
Ezra 7:7
And there went up also to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king, some of the people of Israel, and some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants.
-
Cross References
Ezra 10:15
Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Tikvah opposed this, and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite supported them.
-
Cross References
Ezra 7:6
This Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.
-
Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:19
The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites according to their fathers.
-
Cross References
Nehemiah 12:24
And the chiefs of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers who stood opposite them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, watch by watch.
-
Cross References
1 Chronicles 6:1
The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
1 Chronicles 6:16
The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.
-
Cross References
Ezra 2:43
The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth.
Ezra 7:7
And there went up also to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king, some of the people of Israel, and some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants.
-
Cross References
Numbers 1:17
Moses and Aaron took these men who had been named.
-
Cross References
2 Chronicles 20:3
Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
-
Cross References
Ezra 8:15
I gathered them to the river that runs to Ahava, and there we camped three days. As I reviewed the people and the priests, I found there none of the sons of Levi.
Ezra 8:31
Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambushes by the way.
-
Cross References
Psalms 5:8
Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me.
-
Cross References
Ezra 7:6
This Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.
-
Cross References
2 Chronicles 15:2
And he went out to meet Asa and said to him, "Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: The Lord is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.
-
Cross References
Ezra 8:19
Also Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, with his kinsmen and their sons, 20.
-
Cross References
Ezra 8:19
Also Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, with his kinsmen and their sons, 20.
-
Cross References
Ezra 7:15 - 16
And also to carry the silver and gold that the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem.
-
Cross References
Ezra 7:14
For you are sent by the king and his seven counselors to make inquiries about Judah and Jerusalem according to the Law of your God, which is in your hand.
-
Cross References
Ezra 1:9 - 11
And this was the number of them: 30 basins of gold, 1,000 basins of silver, 29 censers.
-
Cross References
Leviticus 21:6
They shall be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God. For they offer the Lord 's food offerings, the bread of their God; therefore they shall be holy.
-
Cross References
Leviticus 22:2 - 3
Speak to Aaron and his sons so that they abstain from the holy things of the people of Israel, which they dedicate to me, so that they do not profane my holy name: I am the Lord.
-
Cross References
Ezra 10:6
Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and went to the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib, where he spent the night, neither eating bread nor drinking water, for he was mourning over the faithlessness of the exiles.
-
Cross References
Ezra 8:26
I weighed out into their hand 650 talents of silver, and silver vessels worth 200 talents, and 100 talents of gold.
-
Cross References
Ezra 7:9
For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him.
-
Cross References
Ezra 7:6
This Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.
-
Cross References
Nehemiah 2:11
So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days.
-
Cross References
Ezra 1:9 - 11
And this was the number of them: 30 basins of gold, 1,000 basins of silver, 29 censers.
-
Cross References
Nehemiah 3:4
And next to them Meremoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz repaired. And next to them Meshullam the son of Berechiah, son of Meshezabel repaired. And next to them Zadok the son of Baana repaired.
Nehemiah 3:21
After him Meremoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz repaired another section from the door of the house of Eliashib to the end of the house of Eliashib.
-
Cross References
Nehemiah 11:16
And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chiefs of the Levites, who were over the outside work of the house of God.
-
Cross References
Nehemiah 3:24
After him Binnui the son of Henadad repaired another section, from the house of Azariah to the buttress
-
Cross References
Ezra 2:1
Now these were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried captive to Babylonia. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town.
-
Cross References
Ezra 6:17
They offered at the dedication of this house of God 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel 12 male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
-
Cross References
Ezra 7:21
And I, Artaxerxes the king, make a decree to all the treasurers in the province Beyond the River: Whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, requires of you, let it be done with all diligence.
-
Cross References
Esther 3:12
Then the king's scribes were summoned on the th...
Esther 8:9
The king's scribes were summoned at that time, ...
Esther 9:3
All the officials of the provinces and the satr...
Daniel 3:2 - 3
Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather the sat...
Daniel 3:27
And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, a...
Daniel 6:2 - 3
And over them three presidents, of whom Daniel ...
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.